Wreck History

Description

Underwater Survey Team (UST) is a citizen science initiative at AUTh which is based on the collaboration of the staff at the Laboratory of Topography, with the diving community, towards the research, the documentation, the study and the promotion of maritime tangible or intangible particularities. Since 2018, UST is taking over information and awareness of public, especially on underwater cultural heritage matters (www.wreckhistory.com), with the active involvement of citizens. The specialized training courses and underwater activities, which UST members coordinate or participate are aiming to a safe and responsible approach of the underwater natural and cultural assets. In this context, a lifelong learning course, entitled "Introduction to Methodologies and Procedures for Underwater Surveying" is offered since 2019. Recently, UST members of the Laboratory of Topography, organized a national conference for “Scuba Diving and Citizen Science”, as a reference point for an ongoing discussion towards the promotion of ocean scientific diving in Greece.

Aim

Underwater Survey Team (UST) collaborates with members of the diving community for the research, the documentation, the study and the promotion of maritime features, whilst taking over information and raising awareness. The specialized training courses and underwater activities that UST members coordinate or participate are aiming to a safe and responsible approach of the underwater assets that relate with our natural and cultural heritage. The Greek seas accommodate approximately 2000 sunken ships and airplanes (see http://www.emodnet-bathymetry.eu/). Our site displays the results of an ongoing project for the study of them. This attempt is based on the voluntary participation of responsible divers and active citizens. The aim of our project is the engagement of public in the protection and promotion of underwater cultural heritage. Main objectives of this effort include: visiting and diving at wreck sites; collecting and organizing archival data; studying and displaying the history of wrecks. The results are expected to be used primary as documentation material for any member of the scuba community with a special interest in wreck-diving and secondary as potential reference for further research of the maritime history.

How to participate

Equipment

Owning the standard recreational diving equipment and Advanced Open Water Diver certification are highly recommended for the participation in diving activities.